Arsenal were the only side in Europe’s top five leagues not to sign a senior outfield player during the summer window, with Petr Cech coming in as Arsenal’s only major arrival.

Since the closure of the transfer window, and Martial’s £36m move to Manchester United, Wenger has claimed the Gunners have been tracking the 19-year-old Frenchman for a while but elected not to make a move as he considered the player a winger.

“I am surprised by the analysis of Wenger, who has apparently been following him since he was a teenager. If Wenger made his analysis to justify not signing Anthony, then I accept his words and so he is a winger.”

“But in football, there are those who follow footballers and those who buy them.”